Eagles Having 'Meaningful Conversations' with DeSean Jackson Following Anti-Semitic Post

The Philadelphia Eagles have responded to wide-receiver DeSean Jackson's recent Instagram story post that featured a quote apparently attributed to Adolf Hitler, which has sparked accusations of anti-Semitism. In a tweet posted on Tuesday, the Eagles said that the organization would engage in "meaningful conversations" with Jackson and others within its camp and continue evaluating.

The franchise wrote that Jackson had been spoken to about his posts, and that he should not only apologize but use his accounts to "promote unity, equality, and respect." Also in its statement, the organization criticized Jackson's decision to share the quote and said it was "disappointed" in him for doing so.

"Regardless of his intentions, the messages he shared were offensive, harmful, and absolutely appalling. They have no place in our society, and are not condoned or supported in anyway by the organization," the Eagles said in the statement.

The team added that its "committed to continuing to have productive and meaningful conversations," not just with Jackson but all players and staff "in order to educate, learn, and grow."

According to ESPN, Jackson shared a quote that appears to be attributed to Hitler that said white Jews "will blackmail America. [They] will extort America, their plan for world domination won't work if the Negroes know who they were."

In screenshots shared by The New York Post, Jackson shared three highlighted sentences that seem to be credited to Hitler, though that's been disputed. Another screenshot showed Jackson trying to tell followers that his message was misunderstood. "Anyone who feels I have hate towards the Jewish community took my post the wrong way. I have no hatred in my heart towards no one. Equality equality," he wrote.

Jackson later posted another video apology to his Instagram on Tuesday. "I just want to y'know first off, extend an apology on behalf of me and what I stand for," he said. "I never want to put any race down or any people down, and my post was definitely not intended for anybody of any race to feel any type of way, especially the Jewish community."

"When I posted what I posted, I definitely didn't mean it to the extent that you guys took it, and I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm very apologetic, and I just want you guys to understand that it never was intended to be—to put any race down or put any religion down," he said in the video apology.

While Jackson said that he shouldn't have shared a quote by Hitler, he said that he was trying to "uplift African Americans and slavery and just enlighten my people."

He apologized once more and said that he "didn't intend any harm or any hatred towards any people" and he "never tr[ies] to put another religion down to uplift [his] religion or [his] race."

In its own statement released on Tuesday, the NFL described Jackson's post as "highly inappropriate, offensive and divisive and stand in stark contrast to the NFL's values of respect, equality and inclusion."

Jackson's agent did not respond to Newsweek's emailed request for further comment in time for publication.